[T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide] Blue6IX:
Time to make some backups

Post 1 - Pre(r)amble

Post 2 - Setting up the Windows XP environment

Post 3 - Time to make some backups

Post 4 - Install Android SDK on WinXP

Post 5 - Getting started: Using the SDK

Post 6 - Other programs to consider

Post 7 - doubleshot Specifics.

Time to make some backups:

This post is dedicated to a lot of the things i've backed up at this point. Let's go over that for a post and get ourselves all set up in that department.

I have laid out some recommendations for what to put on your backup cds to get started. We choose optical media as the preferred type of backup, and then try to bring it down to the most universal level.

Since Windows XP will run on machines that didn't necessarily come with even a DVD reader standard, or it may have burnt out, you should at least be able to come up with a plain-jane cd-rom drive.

This also has the benefit of not installing random USB devices to our system after a fresh Windows XP install if we don't want to.

Bootdisk.com is a good resource for some tools you may wish to include on some of these disks or others you make.

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Remember - spaces are bad in your file and folder names.

Connect everything with either an:

Underscore _

Hyphen -

Try to refrain from using:

Period . It may trick something down the line to look for a non-existent file extension.

Any odd characters or symbols. Numbers, letters, hyphens and underscores can make your whole file and folder names. Let's make everything easy for everybody.

Windows XP users should:

Try to hold true to the 8.3 rule as much as feasable. Old DOS rule of length for filename.extension

While not often possible on bigger projects, keep this in mind in striving for the maximum range of readability and compatibility whenever you can. Simple is better.

[B]8.3 example:[/B]

BookFour.txt
12345678.123

1 through 8 = Filename
Period . = Switch telling the computer to read next the file type.
1 through 3 = File Extension - tells the computer what type of file it is and how to read it.

[B]Simple Folder ( Directory ) examples:[/B]
Idea_001
Idea-001

Stuff-01
Stuff-02

[B]Simple File examples:[/B]
Read_Me1.txt
Read-Me1.txt

Change-1.txt
Change-2.txt

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[B]Folder ( Directory ) examples:[/B]
doubleshot_Project_001
doubleshot_Project-001

MT4GS_Backup_Stock-001
MT4GS_Backup_Stock-002

[B]File examples:[/B]
doubleshot_Mount_Points.txt
doubleshot_Mount-Points.txt

Web_Links-001.txt
Web_Links-002.txt

Empty spaces between parts of your filename may not seem like a big deal if you've always worked within a Windows environment. Try to get away from this.

If you are starting with a fresh approach, and a fresh system new and ready, try keeping it as simple as possible when you can. Make sure not to make things too generic and lose organization - hyphens and underscores become your friend.

Some other operating systems you may use or need to use will not be so forgiving of empty spaces as Windows XP.

If you share files with people on other operating systems, or one day need to switch over yourself, you will find not having a naming issue is ... a hurdle you have overcome with knowledge.

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Recommended Backup cds to Burn:

5 total cds at less then 700MB each.

Three tips:

1 - Recommended to copy the web link and keep it with the software for reference.

2 - Also make sure to copy any license files with the program when you download it ( PDF, txt and so forth ) as a seperate file and keep it with the software.

3 - Each software package should have it's own folder and should have at minimum the software, license and internet shortcut to the author or company web page. The internet shortcut ensures that support goes to the right place and credit goes where it should.

Drivers Disks:

2 Disks Listed.

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Disk_D01 - PC Drivers

- All current drivers for Windows XP for the computer from the manufacturer.

- All current drivers for Windows XP from the manufacturers of any aftermarket parts or peripherals.

- Notepad-plus-plus

- 7-Zip

- Bulk Rename Utility

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Disk_D02 - doubleshot Drivers

- HTC doubleshot User Manual

- Revolutionary: S-OFF & Recovery Tool

- doubleshot Fastboot Drivers

- HTC Sync

- Stock doubleshot recovery image

- Clockworkmod 5.0.2.7

- Notepad-plus-plus

- 7-Zip

- Bulk Rename Utility

- And as much documentation as you want.

Microsoft Updates and Software:

3 Disks Listed.

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Disk_M01 - Microsoft Redistributables 1 - Service Pack 3

- Windows XP Service Pack 3 Redistributable

- Windows XP Service Pck 3 Debug Build

- Windows Installer 4.5 Redistributable

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Disk_M02 - Microsoft .Net Frameworks

- Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 Redistributable

- Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 Redistributable

- Microsoft .Net Framework 3.0 Redistributable

- Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 Redistributable

- Microsoft .Net 4 Standalone Installer

- Microsoft .NET Framework Client Profile Offline Installer

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Disk_M03 - Microsoft Updates

- Other Microsoft updates or software packages that are user specific.

- Includes service pack and security updates for Microsoft Office if used.

- DirectX End-User Runtimes

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Backup Notes:

If you took the time to read the guide through first, before following it, you will see that making these cds first if possible will save you a considerable amount of setup time. Since you will already have on hand some of what you would get through Windows Update the download time is shorter and you are less traffic on the server.

If you do this several times a week you should have whatever redistributable Microsoft Update software packages available on disk to allow others that bandwidth to connect to Microsoft Update.

You will also have on hand some of the necessary programs to get your dev station started, even if you install completely off-line.

If your computer has a burner, even just a cd burner, which is very likely... and given how cheap a cd is... the value of having these few cds containing the software they do sitting next to your computer is pretty sizable.

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This is a development computer, one set aside and at any given time you might decide to do this process over from scratch and use different tools. You want to be able to install any drivers from a flash drive at least, but cd preferably. Installing from a cd doesn't have to contaminate the fresh Windows XP installation with device drivers for an aftermarket USB device, as they are installed on first use of one. The cd as optical media is the cleanest entry method of data to a fresh computer, and it can be done without internet or network access.

Sometimes this is desireable, the offline part speaks for itself, but your dev project may force you to be conscious of the USB card reader installing drivers like in the thread I linked to above where I was testing USB drives and MicroSD cards. That's a perfect example of how one driver installed in the wrong order could throw a whole test, and they have to be kept track of by the serial number of the device physically in front of you - I had to make sure I tested the USB Readers themselves evenly in addition to the MicroSD cards.

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Your development computer is whatever environment you need it to be, and you should be prepared to change it from project to project.

Windows - install fresh as often as feasable for best use. The longer it's installed, the more unstable it becomes. You basically avoid all the problems people suffer who have their computer longer then a year by never having your operating system installed that long.

Windows version of the iPhone "you're holding it wrong" speech.

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This is one method among many, but strives to reach the lowest common denominator in compatibility. These cd backups should not be your only ones.

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Feel free to reply to this thread with links that would fit and be helpful here. I'll cycle them up as I can.